Carshalton’s Old Rectory sold for £535k to a developer linked to a decaying pub. Local group CORA is upset by the sale.
CORA wants the 17th-century building preserved. They want it used for community arts projects. Inside Croydon said the council made a deal. The deal required the Russettings buyer purchase the Rectory. Russettings sold for £1.8 million. The Old Rectory sold for only £535,000.
A Sutton Council spokesperson shared a different story. They said councillors approved the sale in July 2024. Buyers did not need to buy both buildings. Sutton Council says the sale was actually necessary. They want to restore the Old Rectory building. They hope to bring it back into use again.
The council says they widely marketed the property. They used a competitive bidding process. Listed buildings cost a lot to maintain. This limited potential buyers. Inside Croydon says the buyer is an offshore company. The company’s name is Nelson Insurance Company Ltd.
They are based in Gibraltar, a British territory. Nelson Insurance is connected to Andrew Hussey. He owns AJH Property Developments Ltd. This company owns the decaying Fox and Hounds pub. It has been closed since February 2017. The council reassured people recently.
They said a local developer will restore the Rectory. They also said that the developer will respect its heritage. Sutton Council says they are committed to restoration. They want to bring the building back into use. The council says they offered them separately for sale. Various past proposals have not worked out.
The council shares residents’ frustration about this. The Rectory was widely marketed. Refurbishing the listed building will be costly. The council says they found a potential buyer now. This buyer is local to Sutton. They are committed to the refurbishment. The refurbishment will need to respect the building’s history. They must also get formal approvals.